March 25, 1971, remains one of the darkest nights in the history of Bengal, remembered as the “Black Night.” On this night, under the orders of Pakistan’s then military ruler Yahya Khan, the Pakistani army launched a brutal operation known as Operation Searchlight, targeting unarmed and sleeping Bengalis.
The attack began with sudden assaults on key locations in Dhaka, including Pilkhana and the Rajarbagh Police Lines, where members of the East Pakistan Rifles (EPR) and the police were caught off guard. Throughout the night, heavy weapons, gunfire, and bayonet charges were used indiscriminately, killing countless innocent civilians and setting homes ablaze. The air was filled with fear, fire, and the cries of the wounded.
Amid this horrific situation, the undisputed leader of the Bengali liberation struggle, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, declared the independence of Bangladesh in the early hours of March 26. Shortly after the attack began, a telegram bearing his signature was sent out, conveying details of the assault and urgent instructions to the people.
The message read:
“On the night of March 26 at 12:00 a.m., the Pakistani armed forces launched a sudden attack on the EPR and police forces at Pilkhana, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of unarmed people. The police and EPR are fighting back bravely on the streets of Dhaka. The general people are courageously resisting the enemy to build an independent Bangladesh. I call upon people from all walks of life across the country to build resistance against the enemy forces in every corner. May Allah help you. — Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
This message was delivered across different parts of the country by party activists without any alteration, inspiring the nation to rise in resistance. It marked the beginning of the Bangladesh Liberation War, which, after nine months of war and immense sacrifice, led to the emergence of an independent Bangladesh.
The night of March 25 stands as a lasting symbol of grief, resistance, and the unyielding determination of a nation to achieve freedom.
Bengali 
English